The name of Team India ODI star Suresh Raina (Chennai Super Kings) has cropped up as one of 10 Uttar Pradesh players under the scanner of UP police. Raina is on the flight out to London for the Champions Trophy.
Suspicions have been spelt out officially by police from that state, including about the no-ball R.P. Singh of Royal Challengers Bangalore bowled against Chennai Super Kings when the match was in the balance and had the ball been a legitimate delivery the result would have been different.
In the list of 22 cricketers that Vindoo Dara Singh said he was in touch with are some sensational names of some of the brightest stars of the league — foreign and Indian. However, police have not moved to proceed against cricketers merely on their being named by the dubious linkman to the betting industry. But if they do pick up players for interrogation it might become the worst blow to cricket yet.
Among the list of foreign players are said to be swashbuckling batsmen and leading wicket-takers. While names of bettors, including stars from Bollywood and Kollywood, may have little to do with the spot-fixing probe, three leading players are being touted as being under the microscope of the Delhi police. However, there have been no arrests beyond the three from Rajasthan Royals from among player ranks.
Team India players may have breathed a sigh of relief at the end of a tense IPL season as they left to participate in the last edition of the Champions Trophy, to be held in England.
Under orders from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni refused to take any questions on the fix Indian cricket is in and replied only to questions pertaining to his team and the Champions Trophy at his first media conference after the spot-fixing and betting scandals broke a fortnight ago.